50407: It is permissible to move the furnishings of an old mosque to another mosque

The congregation of one of the mosques has decided to replace the furnishings of the mosque and to throw out the old furnishings. I asked them for permission to take the things to the musalla (prayer room) of the school where I am studying. Is it permissible to do that?.

Published Date: 2004-06-09

Praise be to Allaah.

Yes, it is permissible to do that, in sha Allaah.

Ibn Qudaamah said: If there is anything left over from the
mats and adornments of the mosque that is not needed, it is permissible to
put them in another mosque, or to give them in charity to poor neighbours
and others.

Ahmad said concerning a case where mosque had been built and
some wood was left over: Let it be used to help another mosque, or words to
that effect.

Al-Marwadhi said: I asked Abu ‘Abd-Allaah about pipes of the
mosque, if there is anything left over, or if any wood is left over. He
said: Give it in charity. Al-Mughni, 6/219-220.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Yes, it is permissible
to move a waqf if that serves a greater interest. If something is no longer
needed in a mosque, such as furnishings or shelves etc, we may move the
items themselves to another mosque if possible, otherwise we may sell these
things and spend the money earned on the mosque. If it belongs to the
Ministry of Awqaaf, then the people in authority are the ones who should
decide what is to be done.

Liqa’ al-Baab il-Maftooh,
3/248.

And Allaah knows best.

Although a musalla does not come under exactly the same
rulings as the mosque, it is like a mosque to some extent, so moving
furnishings to a musalla should take priority over giving them in charity to
the poor. And Allaah knows best.